Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2008-09: A product of the Pomfret School and the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs junior program, Brian Flynn skated in 38 games for the University of Maine as a freshman. He was the second-leading scorer for the Black Bears behind Red Wings’ prospect Gustav Nyquist, scoring 12 goals with 13 assists, And was minus-one with 10 penalty minutes. Five of Flynn’s 12 goals were scored on the power play. After winning 10 of 16 games to start the season, Maine struggled in the second half; finishing seventh in Hockey East.

2009-10: The line of Flynn, Nyquist and Tanner House was again the top scoring line in Flynn’s sophomore season as the three finished 1-2-3 in scoring for the Black Bears. Flynn was second behind Nyquist with 47 points – scoring 19 goals with 28 assists in 39 games – and was plus-seven with 12 penalty minutes. Maine was much-improved, finishing fourth in Hockey East and advancing to the conference playoff championship game. The Black Bears lost to eventual national champion Boston College in a wild 7-6 overtime game in the final. Flynn assisted on two goals in that game – including Joey Diamond’s game-tying goal with 27 seconds remaining.

2010-11: Flynn led the University of Maine in goals as a junior – scoring 20 for the first time in his college career – and finished fourth on the Black Bears with 36 points (behind Nyquist (51) and Spencer Abbott (40)). He finished plus-five with 8 penalty minutes in 36 games and was awarded Hockey East’s Sportsmanship Award. Maine finished fifth in Hockey East and lost to Merrimack in the conference quarterfinals.

2011-12: Flynn signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Sabres in March 2012 following his senior season at Maine and made his pro hockey debut with AHL Rochester. He was minus-2 with 1 assist and 2 penalty minutes in five games with the Americans and did not play in their playoff series with Toronto. Flynn was the second-leading scorer for Maine behind Abbott, scoring 18 goals with a career-high 30 assists, and was plus-18 with 37 penalty minutes in 40 games. Maine finished fourth in Hockey East and faced Boston College in the playoff championship game for the second time in three years. The Black Bears received first NCAA Tournament berth since 2006-07.

2012-13: Flynn was called up by the Sabres at the beginning of March and played 26 games for Buffalo in his first pro season. He scored 6 goals with 5 assists and was +5; averaging 14:40 minutes of ice time. Flynn played 45 regular season games for Buffalo’s AHL affiliate in Rochester, scoring 16 goals with 16 assists, and was -3 with 18 penalty minutes. The Amerks finished second in the North Division and were swept by first place Toronto in the first round of the playoffs. Flynn had no points and was -1 with 4 penalty minutes in three playoff games. He was re-signed as a restricted free agent to a one-year contract by Buffalo in July, 2013.

Talent Analysis

Flynn is a versatile forward who has a good work ethic and scores the dirty goals. He is not afraid to go into the high traffic areas and plays at a high level consistently. Flynn played four years at Maine and therefore considered a more mature and polished, albeit inexperienced, prospect.

Future

Flynn was dealt by the Buffalo Sabres to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a fifth round pick.

Photo: Forward Phil Varone currently leads the Rochester Americans with 29 points through 32 games. Varone is in his third year at the AHL level. (courtesy of Abelimages/Getty Images)

The Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, made their return to the Spengler Cup this winter after placing third in 1996. However, the Amerks were outmatched in the prestigious tournament this time around, allowing 15 goals and losing all three of their games. Participating in the tournament meant taking a 12-day break from AHL play, but three extra games' worth of experience can be beneficial to a young team.

Photo: Forward Zemgus Girgensons is one of four teenagers to play for the Buffalo Sabres this season. The Latvian-born Girgensons was selected 14th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft. (courtesy of Jeanine Leech/Icon SMI)

Currently amid a full-scale rebuild, the Buffalo Sabres have 43 prospects in their system, including seven first-round picks, giving them both quantity and quality at every position. The Sabres also have many prospects already contributing at the NHL level, including forwards Zemgus Girgensons, Mikhail Grigorenko, and Johan Larsson.

Photo: Forward Mikhail Grigorenko is expected to have a strong 2013-14 season with the Buffalo Sabres. Grigorenko played in 25 games with the Sabres last season, managing a goal and four assists. (courtesy of Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres continue their re-build with a sense of optimism this coming season. Mikhail Grigorenko steps in full-time as one of the team's top centers while Finnish power forward Joel Armia prepares to test his scoring abilities on North American ice.

Photo: Defenseman Alex Lepkowski had a strong playoff run with the Barrie Colts of the OHL. The 20-year-old was a defensive mainstay for the Colts, who finished one win away from a berth in the 2013 Memorial Cup. (courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL images)

After finishing last in the Northeast Division for the first time since 2004 and missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season, the Buffalo Sabres are hitting the reset button. The first move was saying goodbye to head coach Lindy Ruff after 1,165 games behind the bench, then shipping captain Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild for two prospects and two picks.

Photo: Brian Flynn has been one of the few pleasant surprises for the Buffalo Sabres this season. An undrafted free agent, Flynn managed six goals and five assists in 26 NHL games this season. (courtesy of Jeanine Leech/Icon SMI)

It is an ongoing process for the Buffalo Sabres as they patiently wait for their prospects to develop. Most of their young players are already playing for the Sabres or their AHL affiliate in Rochester, and the ones still in college have improved by leaps and bounds. Below are the winners of the Buffalo Sabres Prospect Awards.